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South Africa: Secret Sunrise

It is 6:00 am on a weekday in the financial district of Johannesburg where there is a special kind of festival called “Secret Sunrise” which takes place at dawn without alcohol or drugs.

It also takes place without disturbing neighbours.

According to the organisers, the venue hosting the “Secret Sunrise”, which is the name for the event, is kept a secret until the day before to “raise the suspense.”

You let yourself go. You do not care about what people think or do, because everyone is crazy.

Already, a two-week rendezvous has been taking place on a Johannesburg rooftop terrace to celebrate the 70’s in a tribute to David Bowie, who died on January 10.

The theme for the day was “Superhero” and all participants dressed up as their favorite child hero.

“With your headphones you are in your own world. It’s a screen to all that is happening around. You’re in your bubble, you become a child in the playground or in your room, for example. And you are free, you notice hardly what the others around you are doing,” says Travis Krugern, a participant.

“You let yourself go. You do not care about what people think or do, because everyone is crazy,” says Niki Coetsee between songs, an accountant of 38 years who paid 100 rand (5.2 euros) to participate in Secret Sunrise”

The inspiration behind the Secret Sunrise comes from an event called the “Morning Gloryville” that was borne in London in 2013 and now reproduced in various places such as New York and Tokyo.